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Internal Transfer

The CALS Admissions Team is Here to Help:

If you are a degree-seeking Cornell student currently enrolled in another College or School and you are interested in Internal Transfer to CALS, please email cals_admissions [at] cornell.edu (cals_admissions[at]cornell[dot]edu) with the subject “Internal Transfer,” and you will be connected with a member of our team.

If you are not currently a CALS student, please seek support from CALS Admissions and the Advising Contact for your desired CALS major. Please do not email or request to meet with an advisor from the CALS Office of Student Services.

Information for Internal Transfer Applicants

Thank you for your interest in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). Please review the following information as you learn more about CALS, explore the possibility of Internal Transfer and prepare to apply.


As you consider which college or school is the best fit for you at Cornell and explore the possibility of Internal Transfer, you are also encouraged to connect with the appropriate Advising Contact in your current college or school.

Eligibility Guidelines & Timing

  • Criteria for Internal Transfer eligibility is applied consistently; if you have questions or concerns, please reach out to cals_admissions [at] cornell.edu to connect with the Internal Transfer Coordinator.
  • Students eligible to apply for Internal Transfer to CALS must be:
    • Non-CALS, degree-seeking Cornell students who will have completed at least two full-time semesters at Cornell (12 credits minimum/semester) prior to entering CALS.
    • Able to complete all degree requirements (for both their selected major and CALS, including Distribution Requirements and 55 CALS credits) within the timeline of their expected date of graduation. All courses that fulfill CALS distribution requirements must be approved by the CALS Curriculum Committee.
    • Enrolled in CALS for at least two semesters prior to graduation.
    • See CALS Graduation Requirements for more information.
  • Current Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management students who wish to transition to another CALS major should apply through the internal transfer process. As the Dyson School is uniquely positioned in both the SC Johnson College of Business and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, CALS is committed to working closely with Dyson students who seek to join another major within the College. Submitted applications will receive every consideration.
    • Dyson students may seek entry into the CALS Interdisciplinary Studies major. Dyson School students interested in the Interdisciplinary Studies major should email CALS Admissions (cals_admissions [at] cornell.edu) to discuss this option with the Internal Transfer Coordinator.
  • Current CALS students seeking to change majors or pursue a double major while remaining in CALS should connect with the appropriate major Advising Coordinator and CALS Student Services to discuss the steps necessary for pursuing a change in major or double major.
  • First-Year students:
    • The earliest first-year students can apply is during first-year second semester (to enter CALS as first semester sophomores).
  • Sophomore students:
    • Can apply during sophomore year first semester (to enter CALS as second semester sophomores) or during sophomore year second semester (to enter CALS as first semester juniors).
  • Junior students:
    • While not common, can apply during junior year first semester (to enter CALS as second semester juniors) or during junior year second semester (to enter CALS as first semester seniors).
    • To apply during junior year, students are required to:
      • Meet with the CALS Admissions Internal Transfer Coordinator.
      • Provide an academic plan demonstrating their ability to complete all degree requirements (for both their selected major and CALS, including Distribution Requirements and 55 CALS credits) within the timeline of their expected date of graduation. 
  • Senior students:
    • Not eligible to apply for Internal Transfer.
  • External Transfer students interested in Internal Transfer:
    • The earliest students who externally transferred to Cornell can apply is during their second full-time semester at Cornell (to enter CALS after having completed two full-time semesters at Cornell).
  • Majors may have specific criteria (see Academic Requirements by Major section).

Admissions Approach & Academic Requirements by Major

  • Students apply directly and are admitted directly into one of the CALS majors. Therefore, adhering to academic requirements by major and the required meeting with the appropriate major Advising Contact are important aspects of the Internal Transfer process.
  • CALS Admissions conducts holistic application reviews, taking into consideration eligibility, academic preparation, academic planning (if appropriate), feedback from the required major Advising Contact meeting, and the application itself (including personal statement and resume).
  • Students may not apply for Internal Transfer to the CALS Interdisciplinary Studies major. The change to this major evolves after a student finds their interests diverging from their current major, and when an idea of a new educational objective is emerging.
  • See Admissions Process section for details on timelines and applying.

The academic requirements by major shared in this section specify the foundation for being academically prepared to apply for Internal Transfer. If there are any additional components to be aware of (such as completing an academic plan), this will be communicated during the required meeting with the appropriate major Advising Contact (see Applying for Internal Transfer section).

 

Applied Economics and Management (AEM)

  • See the Dyson School Internal Transfer website for information on the internal transfer application process
  • Questions about applying should be directed to: dyson_admissions [at] cornell.edu (dyson_admissions[at]cornell[dot]edu)

Biological Engineering

  • Minimum cumulative Cornell GPA of 2.5 and at most one grade below C- in math, science and engineering courses
  • Prior to the beginning of junior year, students should be on track to complete:
    • BEE/ENGRD 2600 or 2510 with a grade of C or better
    • One year of Introductory Biology with grades of C- or better
    • All College of Engineering core requirements (including MATH 1910, 1920, 2930 and 2940, PHYS 1112 and 2213 (2208 for those who are pre-med), ENGRD 2020)

Biological Sciences

Communication

  • Minimum cumulative Cornell GPA of 2.5
  • COMM 1101, COMM 2820 and one of the Focus Area Introductory Courses completed before transfer with a grade of a B or better in each of the required courses
  • Focus Area Introductory Courses: COMM 2200, COMM 2450, COMM 2760 and COMM 2850

Environmental Engineering

  • Minimum cumulative Cornell GPA of 2.0 and minimum GPA of 2.0 in all math, science and engineering courses
  • Prior to the beginning of junior year, students should be on track to complete:
    • BEE/ENGRD 2510 with a grade of C- or better
    • All College of Engineering core requirements (including MATH 1910, 1920, 2930 and 2940, PHYS 1112 and 2213, ENGRD 2020)

Global Development

  • Minimum cumulative Cornell GPA of 3.0
  • GDEV/DSOC/IARD 1102: Intro to Global Development, PLSCI/GDEV/DSOC/IARD 1300: Just Food, and GDEV/DSOC/IARD 1105: Global Development Cornerstone completed before transfer with an average grade of B+ or better in 1102 and 1300 and a "S" in the Cornerstone (note that these three courses are only offered in the fall semester)

Global and Public Health Sciences

  • Either NS 1600 or NS 2600 completed before transfer with a grade of B or better
  • One required chemistry course completed before transfer with a grade of C or better
  • One required biology course completed before transfer with a grade of C or better
  • See GHPS major page for more information

Information Science

  • Minimum cumulative Cornell GPA of 3.0
  • Calculus or Statistics
  • Introduction to Computing Using Python (CS 1110) or Introduction to Computing: An Engineering and Science Perspective (CS 1112)
  • At least one course in the Information Science core (INFO 1200 or INFO 1260, INFO 1300, INFO 2040, INFO 2450, INFO 2950)

Landscape Architecture

  • Minimum cumulative Cornell GPA of 2.5
  • At least one course in new interest area completed before transfer with a grade of B or better
  • Portfolio

Nutritional Sciences

  • Minimum cumulative Cornell GPA of 2.75
  • NS coursework: NS 1150, 1220, 2450, 2750, 3410, or 3450 completed before transfer with a grade of B or better
  • Chemistry: CHEM 2070/2080 (general chemistry) sequence (or equivalent) should be completed by the beginning of sophomore year, and organic chemistry requirement should be completed by the beginning of junior year (see NS major page for specific options)
  • Recommended: Introductory biology lecture and/or lab (see NS major page for specific options)
  • Recommended: Calculus or statistics (see NS major page for specific options)

All other majors

  • Minimum cumulative Cornell GPA of 2.5
  • At least one course in new interest area completed before transfer with a grade of B or better

Application Timelines & Applying for Internal Transfer

Students can apply for fall and spring semester Internal Transfer. The link to the application (when available) can be found here: https://internaltransfer.cornell.edu/.

 

Spring Semester Entry Timeline

  • Application Available: October 1
  • Application Deadline: December 1
  • Decision Notification: Mid-January
  • Admitted students enter CALS in the spring semester

Fall Semester Entry Timeline

  • Application Available: March 1
  • Application Deadline: May 1
  • Decision Notification: Mid-June
  • Admitted students enter CALS in the fall semester
  • Meet with the Advising Contact in the appropriate CALS major
    • View the list of Advising Contacts by major and schedule a meeting.
    • The purpose of the meeting is to ensure that you fully understand the major, including coursework requirements, and to discuss how you would complete the required courses within the timeline of your expected date of graduation.
    • Be prepared by bringing a current unofficial transcript and questions that you have.
    • Following this meeting, the Advising Contact will submit a feedback form to the CALS Admissions office regarding your candidacy, which will be included with your application materials. (There is no action necessary on your end to initiate this submission).

 

  • Complete the Internal Transfer Application
    • Review Timelines and Deadlines (see Application Timelines section).
    • The link to the application (when available) can be found here: https://internaltransfer.cornell.edu/.
    • Within the application, be prepared to include the name and Net ID of the major Advising Contact you met with.
    • Within the application, be prepared to submit your Personal Statement (recommended word count ~650 words). The CALS prompt is: The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) community is committed to tackling the complex challenges of our times through purpose-driven science. Please describe how your interests and goals (both academic and professional), as well as any related experiences, have led you to apply for internal transfer to the major you have selected within CALS. How will joining this major and CALS enable you to pursue the opportunities and experiences you are seeking at Cornell?
    • Within the application, be prepared to submit your resume including any clubs, organizations, research experiences, internships, part-time jobs etc. you are engaged in (professional formatting not necessary).

 

  • All decisions are final and there is no appeal process
    • By submitting an Internal Transfer application to CALS, you agree to enroll in CALS if extended an offer of admission. If plans change, you can request to return to your previous college or school by emailing cals_admissions [at] cornell.edu (cals_admissions[at]cornell[dot]edu) by the deadline that is shared at the time of the admission decision.
    • If you are not admitted, you may meet with the Internal Transfer Coordinator to explore possible options for applying again at a later date. You are also encouraged to connect with the appropriate Advising Contact in your current college or school for support.

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